U.S. patent application number 14/605113 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-30 for image processing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.. Invention is credited to Atsushi Fujiki, Kunihiko Shimamoto, Yuya Tagami.
Application Number | 20150213298 14/605113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53679355 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150213298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujiki; Atsushi ; et
al. |
July 30, 2015 |
IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
A 2D code detecting unit 12 detects 2D codes in a document
image. A 2D code decoding unit 14 decodes the detected plural 2D
codes, and generates corresponding plural pieces of decoded data.
An order identifying unit 13 identifies an order of the plural
pieces of decoded data on the basis of an orientation of the
detected plural 2D codes.
Inventors: |
Fujiki; Atsushi; (Osaka,
JP) ; Shimamoto; Kunihiko; (Osaka, JP) ;
Tagami; Yuya; (Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KYOCERA Document Solutions
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
53679355 |
Appl. No.: |
14/605113 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/32352 20130101;
H04N 2201/3269 20130101; H04N 1/32144 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 7/14 20060101
G06K007/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2014 |
JP |
2014-014936 |
Claims
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a 2D code detecting
unit configured to detect plural 2D codes in a document image; a 2D
code decoding unit configured to decode the detected plural 2D
codes and generate plural pieces of decoded data; and an order
identifying unit configured to identify an order of the plural
pieces of decoded data on the basis of an orientation of the
detected plural 2D codes.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
order identifying unit is further configured to: if the orientation
of the detected plural 2D codes is a prespecified orientation,
identify the order of the plural pieces of decoded data as a
prespecified order, and if the orientation of the detected plural
2D codes is not the prespecified orientation, identify the order of
the plural pieces of decoded data as an order that corresponds to
the orientation of the detected plural 2D codes and is different
from the prespecified order.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
orientation of the 2D codes is identified on the basis of positions
of plural detection patterns in the 2D codes.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
2D code decoding unit is further configured to: if the orientation
of the detected plural 2D codes is a prespecified orientation,
decode the plural 2D codes in turn in the prespecified order, and
if the orientation of the detected plural 2D codes is not the
prespecified orientation, decode the plural 2D codes in turn in an
order that corresponds to the orientation of the detected plural 2D
codes and is different from the prespecified order.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application relates to and claims priority rights from
Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-014936, filed on Jan. 29,
2014, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure relates to an image processing
apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] An image processing apparatus scans a document that includes
plural two dimensional codes (hereinafter called as "2D codes"),
decodes the plural 2D codes in the document, and performs data
processing on the basis of the decoded data.
[0006] When plural 2D codes are arranged on a document, the plural
2D codes are arranged on the document in a prespecified order; and
in a document image obtained by scanning the document, the plural
2D codes are decoded in the prespecified order, and plural pieces
of the decoded data of the plural 2D codes are automatically
assigned to respective predetermined uses in accordance with the
prespecified order.
[0007] FIG. 6 shows a diagram that indicates an example of a
document in which plural 2D codes 201 to 205 are arranged. In the
document shown in FIG. 6, the aforementioned prespecified order is
the order of the 2D code 201, the 2D code 202, the 2D code 203, the
2D code 204, and then the 2D code 205.
[0008] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the order is specified along
a sequence in the horizontal direction of the document (i.e. the
primary scanning direction of the document image in its proper
orientation), and a 2D code next to the last 2D code in such a
horizontal sequence is the first 2D code in a next horizontal
sequence in the vertical direction of the document (i.e. the
secondary scanning direction of the document image in its proper
orientation).
[0009] Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the decoded data
of the 2D code 201 is used for the use to which the first decoded
data is assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 202 is used for
the use to which the second decoded data is assigned, the decoded
data of the 2D code 203 is used for the use to which the third
decoded data is assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 204 is
used for the use to which the fourth decoded data is assigned, and
the decoded data of the 2D code 205 is used for the use to which
the fifth decoded data is assigned.
[0010] If such a document is arranged in a wrong orientation when
the document is scanned for obtaining a document image thereof,
then the 2D codes are decoded in the prespecified order in the
document image obtained from the document having the wrong
orientation, and plural pieces of the decoded data of the plural 2D
codes are automatically assigned to respective predetermined uses
in accordance with the prespecified order, and consequently, the
plural pieces of the decoded data of the plural 2D codes are
automatically assigned to wrong uses.
[0011] FIG. 7 shows a diagram that indicates a document image
obtained by scanning the document shown in FIG. 6 rotated by 180
degrees. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if a document image is
obtained by scanning a document rotated by 180 degrees, the decoded
data of the 2D code 205 is wrongly used for the use to which the
first decoded data is assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 204
is wrongly used for the use to which the second decoded data is
assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 202 is wrongly used for
the use to which the fourth decoded data is assigned, and the
decoded data of the 2D code 201 is wrongly used for the use to
which the fifth decoded data is assigned.
SUMMARY
[0012] An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the
present disclosure includes a 2D code detecting unit, a 2D code
decoding unit, and an order identifying unit. The 2D code detecting
unit is configured to detect plural 2D codes in a document image.
The 2D code decoding unit is configured to decode the detected
plural 2D codes and generate plural pieces of decoded data. The
order identifying unit is configured to identify an order of the
plural pieces of decoded data on the basis of an orientation of the
detected plural 2D codes.
[0013] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the
following detailed description along with the accompanied
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram that indicates a configuration
of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a diagram that indicates an example of a 2D
code;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart that explains a behavior of the
image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a diagram that indicates an order of plural
pieces of decoded data in the image processing apparatus shown in
FIG. 1 in a case that the document shown in FIG. 6 is rotated by
180 degrees;
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a diagram that indicates an order of plural
pieces of decoded data in the image processing apparatus shown in
FIG. 1 in a case that the document shown in FIG. 6 is rotated by
-90 degrees;
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a diagram that indicates an example of a
document in which plural 2D codes 201 to 205 are arranged;
[0020] and
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a diagram that indicates a document image
obtained by scanning the document shown in FIG. 6 rotated by 180
degrees.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment according to aspects of the
present disclose will be explained with reference to drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram that indicates a configuration
of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure. This image processing apparatus includes an
image scanning device 1, a storage device 2, a communication device
3, a printing device 4, and a processor 5.
[0024] The image scanning device 1 is an internal device that
optically scans a document image of a document, and generates image
data (RGB data, here) of the document image.
[0025] The storage device 2 is a device capable of storing data and
programs. A non-volatile storage medium with a large capacity is
used as the storage device 2, such as non-volatile memory or hard
disk drive. The storage device 2 is enabled, for example, to store
the image data of the document image.
[0026] The communicating device 3 is a device which performs data
communication with an external device. A network interface which
performs network communication, a modem which performs facsimile
communication or the like is used as the communicating device
3.
[0027] The printing device 4 performs printing of a document image
based on image data (here, CMYK data) of the document image for
which image processing such as color conversion and halftone
process for printing has been processed.
[0028] The processor 5 is a computer which includes a CPU (Central
Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random
Access Memory), loads a program from the ROM or the storage device
2 to the RAM, and executes the program with the CPU to embody
various processing units. In this embodiment, a scan processing
unit 11, a 2D code detecting unit 12, an order identifying unit 13,
a 2D code decoding unit 14, and the like are embodied in the
processor 5.
[0029] The scan processing unit 11 controls the image scanning
device 1, acquires a document image, and stores image data of the
document image in the storage device 2, the RAM, or the like.
[0030] The 2D code detecting unit 12 detects 2D codes (e.g. QR
codes (registered trademark)) in the document image. In this
embodiment, the 2D code detecting unit 12 detects a 2D code by
detecting position detection patterns in the 2D code.
[0031] The order identifying unit 13 identifies an order of plural
pieces of decoded data of the detected plural 2D codes on the basis
of an orientation of the detected plural 2D codes.
[0032] If the orientation of the detected plural 2D codes is a
prespecified orientation, the order identifying unit 13 identifies
the order of the plural pieces of decoded data as a prespecified
order. Otherwise, if the orientation of the detected plural 2D
codes is not the prespecified orientation, the order identifying
unit 13 identifies the order of the plural pieces of decoded data
as an order that corresponds to the orientation of the detected
plural 2D codes and is different from the prespecified order.
[0033] The orientation of the 2D codes is identified on the basis
of positions of plural detection patterns in the 2D codes by the 2D
code detecting unit 12 or the order identifying unit 13.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a diagram that indicates an example of a 2D
code. The 2D code shown in FIG. 2 is a QR code (registered
trademark). As shown in FIG. 2, a 2D code has three position
detection patterns 101a, 101b and 101c in its inside. The position
detection pattern 101b is located in a first direction from the
position detection pattern 101a. The position detection pattern
101c is located in a second direction from the position detection
pattern 101a, and the second direction is perpendicular to the
first direction (here, rotates by -90 degrees from the first
direction).
[0035] Therefore, the document image (i.e. the 2D code) is rotated
from the prespecified direction by an angle between the
aforementioned first direction and the primary scanning direction
of the document image (i.e. the 2D code), and on the basis of this
fact, the orientation of the document image (i.e. the 2D code) is
identified.
[0036] The 2D code decoding unit 14 decodes the plural 2D codes
detected by the 2D code detecting unit 12, and generates
corresponding plural pieces of decoded data.
[0037] If the 2D code is a QR code (registered trademark), the 2D
code decoding unit 14 acquires version information and format
information in the 2D code, reads coded data from the 2D code on
the basis of the version information and format information, and
decodes the coded data with error correction.
[0038] In this embodiment, if the orientation of the detected
plural 2D codes is a prespecified orientation, the 2D code decoding
unit 14 decodes the plural 2D codes in turn in the prespecified
order, and otherwise, if the orientation of the detected plural 2D
codes is not the prespecified orientation, the 2D code decoding
unit 14 decodes the plural 2D codes in turn in an order that
corresponds to the orientation of the detected plural 2D codes and
is different from the prespecified order.
[0039] The following part explains a behavior of the aforementioned
image processing apparatus. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart that explains
a behavior of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] When a predetermined user operation is detected in an
operation panel (not shown), the scan processing unit 11 controls
the image scanning device 1, acquires a document image of a
document set on the image scanning device 1, and stores image data
of the document image in the storage device 2, the RAM, or the
like. The 2D code detecting unit 12 detects 2D codes in the
document image (in Step S1), and identifies an orientation of the
2D codes in the document image (in Step S2).
[0041] The order identifying unit 13 determines whether the
identified orientation of the 2D codes is a prespecified
orientation or not (in Step S3).
[0042] If the identified orientation of the 2D codes is the
prespecified orientation, then the 2D code decoding unit 14 decodes
the plural 2D codes in turn in a prespecified order, and the order
identifying unit 13 determines the order of the plural pieces of
the decoded data as the decoding order (in Step S4).
[0043] Contrarily, if the identified orientation of the 2D codes is
not the prespecified orientation, then the 2D code decoding unit 14
decodes the plural 2D codes in turn in an order that corresponds to
the orientation of the detected plural 2D codes and is different
from the prespecified order, and the order identifying unit 13
determines the order of the plural pieces of the decoded data as
the decoding order (in Step S5).
[0044] FIG. 4 shows a diagram that indicates an order of plural
pieces of decoded data in the image processing apparatus shown in
FIG. 1 in a case that the document shown in FIG. 6 is rotated by
180 degrees.
[0045] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, if the document is rotated
by 180 degrees, the 2D codes 201 to 205 are decoded in a reverse
order of the prespecified order, and this decoding order is
considered to the order of the 2D codes 201 to 205. Therefore, in
this case, even though the document is rotated by 180 degrees, the
decoded data of the 2D code 201 is correctly used for the use to
which the first decoded data is assigned, the decoded data of the
2D code 202 is correctly used for the use to which the second
decoded data is assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 203 is
correctly used for the use to which the third decoded data is
assigned, the decoded data of the 2D code 204 is correctly used for
the use to which the fourth decoded data is assigned, and the
decoded data of the 2D code 205 is correctly used for the use to
which the fifth decoded data is assigned.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a diagram that indicates an order of plural
pieces of decoded data in the image processing apparatus shown in
FIG. 1 in a case that the document shown in FIG. 6 is rotated by
-90 degrees.
[0047] If the orientation of the document is rotated by -90
degrees, then the order is specified along a sequence in the
vertical direction of the document (i.e. the secondary scanning
direction of the document image in its proper orientation), and a
2D code next to the last 2D code in such a vertical sequence is the
first 2D code in a previous vertical sequence in the horizontal
direction of the document (i.e. the primary scanning direction of
the document image in its proper orientation). Further, if the
orientation of the document is rotated by +90 degrees, then the 2D
codes 201 to 205 are decoded in a reverse order of the order in the
case that the orientation of the document is rotated by -90
degrees, and this decoding order is considered to the order of the
2D codes 201 to 205.
[0048] In the aforementioned embodiment, the 2D code detecting unit
12 detects 2D codes in a document image, and the 2D code decoding
unit 14 decodes the detected plural 2D codes, and generates
corresponding plural pieces of decoded data. The order identifying
unit 13 identifies an order of the plural pieces of decoded data on
the basis of an orientation of the detected plural 2D codes.
[0049] Therefore, regardless of the orientation of the document,
the order of plural pieces of decoded data of the plural 2D code is
properly identified.
[0050] The description has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive
or limited.
[0051] For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, the decoding
order of plural 2D codes in a document image is selected in
accordance with the orientation of the 2D codes and the decoding
order is considered to the order of plural pieces of decoded data
of the 2D codes. Alternatively, it may be configured that plural 2D
codes in a document image are decoded in the prespecified order and
plural pieces of the decoded data of the 2D codes in the decoding
order (i.e. the prespecified order) are rearranged in the
aforementioned order that corresponds to the orientation of the 2D
codes.
[0052] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent
to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It
is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be
covered by the appended claims.
* * * * *